Model 69 Musings

[glenncal1]

Last two range trips I bought my 4" Model 69. I had forgotten what a nice gun it is. Trigger is good, gun is very accurate and easy to shoot (I did install bigger grips). The L frame makes for a very handy size and the guns very flexible in its loadings. In snake country? .44 shotshells. Plinking and just general shootin'? .44 specials. In bear country? .44 mag.

The lock? I pay it no attention. One downside only 5 shot capacity, but if they went to 6 the gun would be too bulky.

 

[oneoff]

Yep, they did somethin' right there. Mine's been to Clark Custom for an action job, and the sights have been changed to a Dawson F/O on the front, and Bowen Back Country on the back. It has a Red Dot on it at the moment for load development, but even though it's easier to shoot accurately (for me?), I "strongly" prefer the open sights. It's just a cool little? gun!
So cool that I recently traded and unwanted Sig for it's little brother with the shorter barrel! Not sure I'll ever find a purpose for it, but it'd be a dandy carry gun in the right circumstances.
It still feels weird to me that the 69 is smaller than a 686! Just amazing considering our perspective of the 44 Magnum back in the 60/70's.

 

[PHS327]

It still feels weird to me that the 69 is smaller than a 686! Just amazing considering our perspective of the 44 Magnum back in the 60/70's.

Smaller? Debatable

686
WIDTH 1.55 in
LENGTH 9.56 in
HEIGHT 6 in
WEIGHT 40.3 oz

69
WIDTH 1.55 in
LENGTH 9.6 in
HEIGHT 6 in
WEIGHT 37.4 oz

 

[oneoff]

Smaller? Debatable

686
WIDTH 1.55 in
LENGTH 9.56 in
HEIGHT 6 in
WEIGHT 40.3 oz

69
WIDTH 1.55 in
LENGTH 9.6 in
HEIGHT 6 in
WEIGHT 37.4 oz

No doubt you’re correct.
I’m not in a position to weigh them at the moment but when I shove a fully loaded, 686+ in the holster, there’s no doubt which one I want to be wearing at the end of the day! Sometimes feeling doesn’t Translate into easily measurable values, not unlike recoil for many people. And, of course, we all have our subjective ideas about things.
I probably shouldn’t have made that comment.

 

[mikerjf]

Anytime I worry about 5 I remind myself that 6 isn’t much better.

 

[glenncal1]

IMHO, without the full lug barrel the 69 feels smaller. Definitely smaller than an N-Frame. 69 is just a good flexible gun.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

I had forgotten what a nice gun it is.
One downside only 5 shot capacity, but if they went to 6 the gun would be too bulky.

I agree, the L-frame 44s are nice! I went with the 2-3/4" bbl.

Of course they couldn't go to (6) rounds in a L-frame because the cylinder diameter/width is set at 1.555".

The L-frame .357s & .44s have the same diameter cylinder.

.



.
.



.

 

[PHS327]

No doubt you’re correct.
I’m not in a position to weigh them at the moment but when I shove a fully loaded, 686+ in the holster, there’s no doubt which one I want to be wearing at the end of the day! Sometimes feeling doesn’t Translate into easily measurable values, not unlike recoil for many people. And, of course, we all have our subjective ideas about things.
I probably shouldn’t have made that comment.

The comment is fine. If you're expecting the 44 mag to be bigger and heavier, it would make the 69 seem even smaller and lighter. Like you said, it's subjective.

 

[Shibadog]

The 69 is a great revolver. Had mine for a few years now. Typically shoot it with lite .44 Mag reloads (Special equiv). East to shoot, very accurate. Very good gun for the boonies.

 

[soonerbb]

Another Model 69 lover, shoot mine stock and it goes every where with me...Here is my rig from Gene at Indian Creek Leather.

 

[Classic29]

Anytime I worry about 5 I remind myself that 6 isn’t much better.

Well if ya think real hard about only 5 rounds remember this-the only safe way to carry the old 6 shot single actions was with one empty chamber. My thought process is if whatever is still coming at me with 5 full power Keith swc’s either stuck in or poked through it it’s time to run lol

 

[CH4]

Makes me appreciate my 696s all the more!

 

[daveyc]

I have often thought about getting a model 69. To this point i have stayed content with my 329 and 629 MG.

of course, that could change by this afternoon!

 

[malph]

The Model 69s are a nice little package and surprisingly shootable.

It's amazing the power that can be harnessed in a relatively small gun nowadays.

 

[pantannojack]

Smaller? Debatable

686
WIDTH 1.55 in
LENGTH 9.56 in
HEIGHT 6 in
WEIGHT 40.3 oz

69
WIDTH 1.55 in
LENGTH 9.6 in
HEIGHT 6 in
WEIGHT 37.4 oz

Just a wondering: How would a 696 compare in these figures?

 

[PHS327]

Just a wondering: How would a 696 compare in these figures?

696

WIDTH: 1 1⁄2"
OVERALL LENGTH: 8"
HEIGHT: 5 3⁄4"
WEIGHT: 35 ozs.

 

[TM44]

I agree with all of the above. My plinking load is 9.5g of Win 244 behind a coated 240g
swc. Clean burning light moderate load at about 1120 fps. Very stable, I've recorded SD's as low as 5 fps.

 

[PHS327]

I sold my model 14-4 so I could but the 4.25 inch and have never regretted it. Last year I finally broke down and got the 2.75 inch. Love them both.

 

[Shrek Of The Arctic]

I've had .44 on my mind a bit lately, and the 2.5" 69 has definitely shown up on my radar. It looks like a really nicely sized revolver. I can't bring myself to like being limited to five shots, but I can bring myself to accept the trade off. Having shot a few matches with a revolver, I'm not particularly keen to the panicked feel of hearing "Click" instead of "BOOM!" and having to reload. As much as I dislike it while shooting at paper and steel targets, I don't like to consider how much that would suck when shooting at malicious or angry things that mean me harm.

six shots is comforting. Five large heavy slugs provide a comfort of their own.

 

[Shibadog]

Lite .44 Mag loads are very shootable in a 69, and STILL pack a serious punch. Loaded heavy it’s a round that has taken everything on the continent, if not everything in the world. For a fairly compact, shootable piece what more can you ask?